A good obedience class to coach your Chihuahua is always useful. However, you do not have to go to obedience classes.  Many classes are especially for handling huge, out-of-control dogs and may stress force methods to attempt to rule and calm these dogs.  These strategies are not good for Chihuahuas or any dog in fact.  If you run into instructors and classes like this, you are better off training your Chihuahua on your own or with other small-dog owners. 

Old-fashioned force-training methods are ineffectual and no fun for your dog either.  Chihuahuas respond best to amendable training and only the gentlest of techniques. 

Some axioms to bear in mind:

Guide, don’t force.  Chihuahuas need to please you.  Your job is to show them what pleases you.  If you force a Chihuahua you may bring out that scandalous Chi stubborn streak. 

Punishment doesn’t work.  Chihuahuas seldom need anything except a mild correction. 

Accentuate the positive.  Reward your dog for behaviors that please you. 

Happy endings:   Keep sessions short and fun, no longer than 10 to 15 mins.  Start and finish each training session with something your dog can do well. 

Chihuahuas are intellectual.  Simply because your Chihuahua lives a life of leisure does not always mean she can’t learn tricks.  Chihuahuas don’t hunt, herd or guard so they don’t have an opportunity to show off like some of the other breeds.  Obedience and agility trials give Chihuahuas a chance to show what they can do.  But you do not have to compete in the competitions to enjoy training your Chihuahua.  Training should be an enjoyable time for you both.  Chihuahuas need to have a sort of schooling. 

Clicker training works really well for Chihuahuas.  In clicker training you teach the dog that a “click” sound signals a coming reward.  A clicker signal is used because it is fast, obvious, and something the dog otherwise does not encounter in normal life.  Once the dog associates the click with an upcoming reward, you wait for the dog to do the behavior you want her to do.  The instant she is doing so, you click to inform the dog her behavior merits a reward.

Learn more about HOW TO TRAIN YOUR GERMAN SHEPHERD and Dog training secrets today.

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